Precise measurements of UV atomic lines: Hyperfine structure and isotope shifts in the 398.8 nm line of Yb

We demonstrate a technique for frequency measurements of UV transitions with sub-MHz precision. The frequency is measured using a ring-cavity resonator whose length is calibrated against a reference laser locked to the $D_2$ line of $^{87}$Rb. We have used this to measure the 398.8 nm ${^1S}_0 \leftrightarrow {^1P}_1$ line of atomic Yb. We report isotope shifts of all the seven stable isotopes, including the rarest isotope $^{168}$Yb. We have been able to resolve the overlapping $^{173}$Yb($F = 3/2$) and $^{172}$Yb transitions for the first time. We also obtain high-precision measurements of excited-state hyperfine structure in the odd isotopes, $^{171}$Yb and $^{173}$Yb. The measurements resolve several discrepancies among earlier measurements.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Metal separations using aqueous biphasic partitioning systems

Aqueous biphasic extraction (ABE) processes offer the potential for low-cost, highly selective separations. This countercurrent extraction technique involves selective partitioning of either dissolved solutes or ultrafine particulates between two immiscible aqueous phases. The extraction systems that the authors have studied are generated by combining an aqueous salt solution with an aqueous polymer solution. They have examined a wide range of applications for ABE, including the treatment of solid and liquid nuclear wastes, decontamination of soils, and processing of mineral ores. They have also conducted fundamental studies of solution microstructure using small angle neutron scattering (SANS). In this report they review the physicochemical fundamentals of aqueous biphase formation and discuss the development and scaleup of ABE processes for environmental remediation

Synergistic and competitive aspects of the adsorption of Poly(ethylene glycol) and Poly(vinyl alcohol) onto Na-Bentonite

Graph Presented) The competitive adsorption of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) onto Na-bentonite has been assessed quantitatively. Particular emphasis was focused on the amount of organic located within the bentonite interlayer and any subsequent eff ects on the extent of layer expansion. The individual isotherms showed strong adsorption for both PVOH and PEG at amounts lower than the quantities required to produce a fully loaded bilayer (0.33 g of PVOH/g of clay) and single layered structures (0.10 g of PEG/g of clay), respectively. Above these concentrations, the incremental amounts adsorbed were smaller, and the concentration of adsorbates in solution gradually increased. Na-bentonite adsorbed more PVOH than PEG at any given concentration. In the competitive study, the amount of PVOH adsorbed was enhanced in the presence of PEG (0.10 and 0.30 g/g of clay), but less PEG was adsorbed. At low loadings of PVOH (0.02-0.10 g/g of clay), the amount of adsorbed PEG was increased but at higher PVOH levels PEG adsorption was reduced. The XRD data showed stepped changes in the d-spacing as the adsorbed amounts of both PEG and PVOH increased. The PEG-bentonite samples did not expand beyond a bilayer structure (18 A˚), but the XRD data for PVOH-treated samples indicated the formation of multilayer structures (d ≥ 44 A˚)

Extraction of long-lived radionuclides from caustic Hanford tank waste supernatants

A series of polymer-based extraction systems, based on the use of polyethylene glycols (PEGs) or polypropylene glycols (PPGs), was demonstrated to be capable of selective extraction and recovery of long-lived radionuclides, such as {sup 99}Tc and {sup 129}I, from Hanford SY-101 tank waste, neutralized current acid waste, and single-shell tank waste simulants. During the extraction process, anionic species like TcO{sub 4}{sup {minus}} and I{sup {minus}} are selectively transferred to the less dense PEG-rich aqueous phase. The partition coefficients for a wide range of inorganic cations and anions, such as sodium, potassium, aluminum, nitrate, nitrite, and carbonate, are all less than one. The partition coefficients for pertechnetate ranged from 12 to 50, depending on the choice of waste simulant and temperature. The partition coefficient for iodide was about 5, while that of iodate was about 0.25. Irradiation of the PEG phase with gamma-ray doses up to 20 Mrad had no detectable effect on the partition coefficients. The most selective extraction systems examined were those based on PPGs, which exhibited separation factors in excess of 3000 between TcO{sub 4}{sup {minus}} and NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}/NO{sub 2}{sub {minus}}. An advantage of the PPG-based system is minimization of secondary waste production. These studies also highlighted the need for exercising great care in extrapolating the partitioning behavior with tank waste simulants to actual tank waste

Aqueous biphasic extraction of uranium and thorium from contaminated soils. Final report

The aqueous biphasic extraction (ABE) process for soil decontamination involves the selective partitioning of solutes and fine particulates between two immiscible aqueous phases. The biphase system is generated by the appropriate combination of a water-soluble polymer (e.g., polyethlene glycol) with an inorganic salt (e.g., sodium carbonate). Selective partitioning results in 99 to 99.5% of the soil being recovered in the cleaned-soil fraction, while only 0.5 to 1% is recovered in the contaminant concentrate. The ABE process is best suited to the recovery of ultrafine, refractory material from the silt and clay fractions of soils. During continuous countercurrent extraction tests with soil samples from the Fernald Environmental Management Project site (Fernald, OH), particulate thorium was extracted and concentrated between 6- and 16-fold, while the uranium concentration was reduced from about 500 mg/kg to about 77 mg/kg. Carbonate leaching alone was able to reduce the uranium concentration only to 146 mg/kg. Preliminary estimates for treatment costs are approximately $160 per ton of dry soil. A detailed flowsheet of the ABE process is provided